It’s 2019 and the year is feeling fresh and new. I don’t know about you though, but this is always the time of the month when the shine of the new year is starting to fade and keeping up all the positive changes gets a little tougher. SO! We are kicking off a series here on the blog all out how to maintain and even push a little further into the fresh starts of 2019.

First up, and most importantly, let’s discuss how to find a fresh start in faith. Faith is a one size fits none topic where the answers for you are definitely not the answers for me, but I think there are a few (mostly) universal practices that can help move you closer to the things that really matter.

1. Scheduled Quiet Time

I believe in first things first, and when it comes to quiet time, I take that literally. I have found such growth when I make pursuing Jesus one of the very first things that I do with my day. It can be difficult to prioritize anything when it isn’t a part of your routine. So let me encourage you to pick a place, a time period, and a method to guide your quiet time and then stick to it no matter what. For me that looks like my dining room table, from 7:20-8:00am, and touching on Scripture, prayer, and outside reading/study during those minutes. Does that time sometimes get shortened? Sure. Do I sometimes feel disconnected? Yes. But mostly, that time is consistent, enriching, day-shaping. If you believe Christ comes first in your life, I would encourage you to put him first in your day.​

2. Bible Study

We are better together. This could not be more apparent when we look at bible study/Lifegroup/small group communities. My Lifegroup and I meet every Monday night for two hours of prayer, study, and mostly, pouring deeply and well into each others’ lives. My community of Christian women holds me up and I cover them in prayer. We keep each other accountable and cover the breadth of scripture in my basement once a week. And because we are a community of women who love each other outside of the 2-hour bible study window, we also go on weekend trips and watch the Bachelor and celebrate Galentines Day together. These are the women who will throw my baby showers and be on the other end of the phone if the worst is happening. That’s what community does. It brings out the best in you and always points you to the cross. ​

3. Prayer & Fasting

My church, Rock City, dedicates the last 21 days of January to a corporate period of prayer and fasting. If you want to remove barriers between you and hearing the voice of God, this is a wonderful and challenging way. Ben and I have joined our church in this fast for the last two years and to say it has been transformative in our faith walks would be an understatement. If you know in your heat that it is time to break some chains and get some answers in your story, it might be time to consider a time of prayer and fasting. If you want to learn more about that, you can click here.

Ok friends, that’s all for today. Next week we will chat about finding and protecting fresh starts in our health. Talk soon!